Historic New Castle Court House in Spring (photo by Gregory Coin)
Historic New Castle, Delaware was settled by the Dutch in 1651 as "Fort Casimir," just a few miles south of present day Wilmington. But by 1664, the English had taken the town, and renamed it "New Castle" in honor of “New Castle upon Tyne,” England’s northern fortress throughout the Middle Ages. The city functioned as Delaware’s colonial capital until 1777, when the capital moved to Dover when the British Army threatened Philadelphia. Today, New Castle is a charming, friendly community with an amazing array of well-preserved historic architecture, abundant open spaces, quaint specialty shops, excellent restaurants, and engaging museums just like Williamsburg. But the New Castle National Historic District is a living, breathing community with real residents -- not actors – where “The Past is Always Present.” Perhaps that’s why federal legislation was just introduced to establish New Castle as the focal point for Delaware’s first-ever National Historic Park.
The New Castle Courthouse is one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the country and a National Landmark. The Courthouse is Delaware’s colonial and first state capital. In the Assembly Room, the legislature passed the resolution on June 15, 1776 to separate from both Great Britain and Pennsylvania, creating the State of Delaware. Three months later, on September 20, 1776, the first Constitution for the Delaware State was adopted. In 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the capital moved to Dover.
The Read House & Gardens on “The Strand” was built in 1801 by the son of one of Delaware's signers of the Declaration of Independence. Tours of the 22-room, 14,000 square foot mansion are operated by the Delaware Historical Society. Carefully restored and furnished using extensive documentation in 1986, the Read House ranks among the best house museums in the country. One of the most popular programs at the Read House is a series of Open Hearth Cooking workshops in February and March. Contact, or better yet JOIN the Delaware Historical Society for more information.
The New Castle Historical Society operates three museums in Delaware’s Colonial Capital – The Amstel House, The Dutch House, and the Old Library Museum. The Amstel House was built in the 1730s by the town’s wealthiest landowner, Dr. John Finney, complete with original woodwork, fine architectural details and open hearth. Facing the Green, the diminutive Dutch House traces its origins to the late 17th century when New Castle was the bustling port for Dutch, English, Swedish, and Finnish settlers and traders.
Here is a brief list of New Castle’s extraordinary collection of historic sites. Not all are open to the public, but you can request a New Castle brochure with lot’s more information from the Delaware Historical Society.
Old "Dutch" House (ca. 1700) - 32 East Third Street
Immanuel Episcopal Church (1703) - On The Green
Old Presbyterian Church (1707) - Opposite Old Town Hall
Gunning-Bedford House (~1730) - 6 The Strand
Van Leuvenigh House (~1730) - S.E. corner Delaware Street & The Strand
Booth House (~1730) - 216 Delaware St.
Old New Castle Courthouse (1732) - 211 Delaware Street
Amstel House (~1738) - 2 East Fourth Street
Archibald Alexander House (~1800) - 26-28 The Green
Janvier House (~1800) - 208 Delaware Street
Read House & Gardens (1801-1804) - 42 the Strand
Arsenal on the Green. (1809-1811) - 30 Market Street
Town Hall & Market Place (1826) - Corner 2nd Street & Delaware Street
New Castle-Frenchtown Railroad Ticket House (1832)
Foot of Delaware Street in Battery Park
Thomas McKean House - 22 The Strand
Velocipede Cycle Museum - 414 Delaware Street
TravelTip: There is a great new, full-service hotel just five minutes from New Caslte called the Clarion Belle. Check it out!
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